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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 00086838 |
Description Activated On: 12/19/2025 11:58:17 AM |
Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organizations objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. Direct supervision is exercised over 4 Water Quality Specialists and 1 Soils Scientist working in the regional offices 15 counties. |
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Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor. Oversee field inspections of NPDES permitted facilities including sewage treatment plants, industrial wastewater treatment facilities, stormwater industrial facilities, and other facilities as assigned. Oversee field inspections of WQM permitted facilities. Ensure prompt and thorough investigations of pollution incidents which may affect public health or water quality. Ensure complaints are responded to in a timely manner. Participate in joint inspections as scheduled with representatives from other regional programs. Performance of non-routine work hours inspections at wastewater treatment facilities. Written or verbal follow-up of investigations and inspections to obtain compliance with the permits, laws and regulations under our administration. Referral of cases for legal action where compliance has not been achieved voluntarily or where there has been damage to the environment. Other supervisory duties are as follows: Assist the Section Chief with the interviewing and selection of WQSs, Compliance Specialists and Soil Scientists. Plan and implement the one-year training program for WQS Trainees and Soil Scientists. Assign work areas and facility responsibilities in consultation with the Section Chief. Review inspection and investigation reports for completeness and information which will enable others to understand the conditions present during the inspection. Verify reports, adhere to Department policies, standard operating procedures and guidelines. Prioritize and assign the investigation of and response to pollution incidents and complaints. Provide technical and procedural recommendations on inspections, pollution incidents, and complaint investigations. Review analytical test results and recommend additional sampling and/or compliance action as needed. Review itineraries and make recommendations on priorities of case handling. Ensure that required inspection and sampling work is completed on time. Conduct inspections with the staff to evaluate their field performance, better understand their cases, and provide technical assistance to them. Receive and provide verbal authorization for staff to work beyond their normal work hours in critical and/or emergency situations. Review written correspondence for completeness and content, and revise as necessary. Ensure staff is familiar and complies with applicable executive orders, management directives and Departmental policies, standard operating procedures and guidelines. Review and approve travel expense vouchers and leave requests. Evaluate work performance, and prepare and sign Employee Performance Reviews for WQSs and Soil Scientists. Conduct periodic progress reviews. Assess training needs for assigned staff. . Review and approve training requests for assigned staff. Receive and propose solutions to staff complaints. Maintain a work climate that is free of discriminatory behavior or harassment by employees under my supervision. Program Management Provide summaries of compliance monitoring inspections by field area when requested by Section Chief. Perform research and write letters in response to requests for information. Prepare written responses to regional log letters by assigned deadlines. Read and circulate technical literature and memos. Review selected Discharge Monitoring Reports of sewage and industrial waste treatment plants for quality assurance. Assist the Section Chief in preparing the annual Program Plan. Review and comment on proposed policies and procedures. Review and evaluate industrial Preparedness, Prevention and Contingency Plans for pollution incident prevention. Perform the duties of the Section Chief when required. Includes representing the region at statewide section meetings. Make recommendations to the Planning and Permits Sections based on knowledge of relevant cases. Develop procedures to implement new policies and improve efficiency of the sections work. Provide information to the news media and to the Regional Community Relations Coordinator. Review selected annual Municipal Wasteload Management reports for sewage treatment plants. Refer problems not within the Programs jurisdiction to other DEP programs and/or governmental agencies. Prepare a biweekly Cross Application Time Sheet (CATS) activity report. Approve assigned staff CATS in accordance with Department policy. Inform Section Chief of all problems, issues or situations which may become imminent health or pollution hazards or initiate active controversy. Utilize personal computers for updating design and revision of databases. Includes use of Microsoft Office software. Attend seminars and public meetings to make presentations or to clarify departmental policies and answer questions. Continually strive to expand and improve technical knowledge and expertise by attending applicable training courses, seminars and conferences. Refer cases to the operator outreach program after discussing with Section Chief. Participate in public education and outreach activities. Determine the need for, order, and maintain program equipment and supplies. Pollution Incident Response Coordinate WQS spill response with regional Emergency Response staff. May require after-hours work. Advise the WQS on spill containment and recommendations to the responsible party or cleanup contractor at spill sites. Coordinate fish kill and other pollution investigations with PA Fish & Boat Commission Waterways Conservation Officers and their regional headquarters. Coordinate investigations involving hazardous materials with the Waste Management Program. Conduct emergency inspections of treatment facilities which are inoperable due to flooding, extensive power failure, and other man-made or natural disasters. Represent the Department during the follow-up of specific incidents requiring involvement state and federal governmental agencies. Enforcement Identify, prioritize and refer significant violations of the Clean Streams Law for enforcement action. Prepare and review Enforcement Referral Forms. Discuss referrals with the Clean Water Compliance Specialist (CWCS) and select the appropriate enforcement mechanism. Assist CWCS during enforcement conferences with the discussion of required corrective measures and penalty negotiation. Discuss the technical aspects of cases referred for legal action with DEP legal staff. Testify at magisterial hearings, County and Commonwealth courts, and the Environmental Hearing Board. Prepare case histories of referrals to assist the CWCS in his documentation for enforcement action. Review orders, settlement agreements and civil penalty actions prepared by the CWCS and DEP attorneys for factual and technical accuracy. Utilize penalty calculation databases. Write Notice of Violations and requests for corrective action. Provide compliance assistance to clients and customers. Complete and serve Field Orders. . Ensure inspection reports, enforcement actions and related correspondence are entered into eFACTS and uploaded into WMS in accordance with Clean Water guidelines. . Implement the Department's policy regarding identifying, tracking, and resolving violations. Field Activities These regular WQS activities are described generally. They are performed during WQS leave, position vacancy, training and as special projects or requests. Plan and conduct on-site inspections of selected sewage and industrial waste treatment facilities. . Review discharge monitoring reports. Investigate spills, surface and groundwater pollution incidents, and fish kills. Investigate water pollution complaints. Participate in aquatic biological surveys with the regional biologist. Meet with state, municipal and corporate officials, consultants, engineers, and facility operators to discuss problems and offer recommendations to improve operations and achieve compliance. Participate in special studies. Miscellaneous Employee will input necessary data into Departmental tracking systems to accurately reflect work performed during specified time periods. Given the appropriate personal protection equipment, required to do one or more of the following in areas that do not exceed published exposure limits: . Operate a motor vehicle to travel to various field sites. . Perform other duties as assigned by the Operations, Monitoring & TMDL Section Chief. Syllabus Follows Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). -Promotes the Department's Mission. -Inputs appropriate data in a prescribed format to meet data quality standards set forth by guidance, training, and policy across all of DEPs electronic data systems; to include ensuring accuracy and completeness of entries, and where available, the use of system specific tools to ensure duplicative entries and data quality issues are minimized. This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. |
Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisors signature. The Water Quality Specialist Supervisor (WQSS) assigns goals and priorities with a view to the fulfillment of EPA, DEP, Regional, and Clean Water Program goals, objectives and priorities. The WQSS assures inspections, complaints and emergency situations are handled quickly, efficiently and appropriately. Staff is given direction on goals and priorities and allowed to schedule to achieve these. All written documents are reviewed by the WQSS. When finalized, all monitored data is inputted into the DEP database. Reports are generated to help manage the goals of the Program. Work assignments are made to subordinates with consideration to technical expertise and require the independent selection of actions. Independent decision making is executed in the processing of inspection reports, complaints, and database input. Work is reviewed by the Operations Group Leader. The WQSS handles routine matters independently according to established policy and procedures, with little supervision. The Operations Group Leader is to be consulted in situations involving deviations from normal procedures, or if changes to established procedures are being contemplated. The WQSS is responsible for the implementation of all Clean Water Program plan items within the Southcentral Region in a manner consistent with the Clean Water Act - NPDES Program, the Clean Streams Law Water Quality Permits, the Rules and Regulations of the Department specific to Clean Water, the Deputate and Regional policies. Manages a staff of Environmental Trainees, Water Quality Specialists, and Soils Scientists. |
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Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License Experience: Licenses, registrations, or certifications: 1. Class C Driver's License 2. N/A 3. N/A 4. 5. 6. |
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Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
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